These cultural connections have been life-changing for many of the students involved, giving them an insight into a very different culture, whilst allowing them to appreciate the similarities in both countries.
With support from Burton and South Derbyshire College and Derbyshire schools, Toyota City Council arranges an annual student exchange for 28 Toyota City students to visit Derbyshire in September, to participate in school lessons and learn about the Derbyshire way of living. Six-hundred students have visited Derbyshire since the onset of the twinning link. Many Derbyshire students have also had the opportunity to visit their sister city for educational and cultural exchange.
In February 2024, 15 students from Belper School travelled to Toyota City on a 2-week educational visit, which entailed 5 days in school, sight-seeing excursions and formal presentations to the Mayor. Derbyshire County Council helped to write the bid for the Turing Scheme, which funded the trip.
For further information, email: stephanie.walsh@derbyshire.gov.uk.
Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) has very strong links with Toyota City and language colleges across Japan. BSDC offer Japanese language lessons both for students and as external classes. They have just signed a new agreement with Nagoya college to deliver study programmes for
Derby University is a member of the Toyota City Partnership Board and has links with Chukyo University in Japan.